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The-Tiny-World-of-Toy-Theatre
Exhibition
The Tiny World of Toy Theatre
5 Aug 2022 – 3 Jun 2023
Regular hours
- Friday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Thursday
- 10:00 – 18:00
Address
- The Strand
- Derby
- DE1 1BS
- United Kingdom
Travel Information
- The Museum and Art Gallery is situated in Derby town centre. There are several regular bus services and a nearby train station all in walking distance.
Discover the magical world of toy theatres in this newly expanded display on the top floor of Pickford’s House.
About
The exhibition showcases the best of Derby Museums’ world-class toy theatre collection, which is one of the largest in the country. It features toy and model theatres from The Frank Bradley Collection, Anthony Denning and practising toy theatre makers Joseph Hope Williams, Trevor Griffin and Alison Englefield.
The toy theatre originates from around 1800, when print sellers marketed prints of famous actors and actresses of the day. Their trade soon expanded to allow theatre enthusiasts and children to build miniature model theatres and stage plays in their own homes.
Featuring enchanting scenes from Sleeping Beauty, Treasure Island, Little Red Riding Hood and Aladdin are amongst the intricate theatres on display from Derby Museums’ collection. A revolving Dracula theatre, based on Edward Gorey’s sets for the 1977 Broadway production takes pride of place. Visitors can also see animated toy theatre excerpts from The Phantom of The Opera, The Miller and His Men and Aladdin.
Explore the links to Derby’s theatres from the Georgian era to the present, including the world premiere of the stage play of Dracula in 1924. Discover the origins of the toy theatre movement and learn how toy theatres were made with films showing artists and tinsellers at work.
